Description
These Cheesy Ground Beef & Veggie Quesadillas are a delicious and hearty meal featuring seasoned lean ground beef sautéed with colorful bell peppers, onions, and shredded carrots, all layered with melted Mexican cheese blend inside whole grain tortillas. Quick to prepare and perfect for a family dinner, they can be served with salsa and light sour cream for extra flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Quesadillas:
- 1 lb ground beef (93% lean)
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 small red bell pepper, diced
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1 packet (1.25 oz) reduced-sodium taco seasoning
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 8 whole grain tortillas
Optional Toppings:
- Salsa
- Light sour cream
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced red and green bell peppers and yellow onions. Sauté for about 10 minutes until the onions begin to brown, then add shredded carrots and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes until vegetables are softened. Transfer the cooked vegetables to a bowl and keep warm.
- Cook Beef: In the same skillet, add the ground beef and crumble it with a spatula. Cook for 8-10 minutes until fully browned. Drain excess fat from the skillet. Stir in the taco seasoning, then return the cooked vegetables to the skillet and mix everything to combine well.
- Assemble Quesadillas: Heat a separate medium skillet over medium-high heat. Place one tortilla in the skillet, then layer with 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese, 1/2 cup of the beef and vegetable mixture, and another 2 tablespoons of cheese. Top with a second tortilla. Repeat this process to create 4 quesadillas in total.
- Cook Quesadillas: Cook each quesadilla for 5-7 minutes on one side until golden brown and crispy, then carefully flip and cook the other side for an additional 5-7 minutes until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crispy.
- Serve: Remove the quesadillas from the skillet and let them cool slightly. Slice and serve warm with optional toppings like salsa and light sour cream for added flavor and creaminess.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef to reduce fat content.
- For a spicier flavor, add jalapeños or hot sauce to the beef mixture.
- Whole wheat or spinach tortillas work well as alternatives to whole grain tortillas.
- Leftover quesadillas can be reheated in a skillet or oven to retain crispiness.
- Use low-fat cheese and sour cream to reduce calorie and fat intake.
